Jack d'Or Defeats Globetrotting Stars in Sapporo Kinen

Jack d'Or returned from a five-month layoff to defeat a quality field, including some top-level international runners, in the Sapporo Kinen (G2) Aug. 21 at Sapporo Racecourse.

The 4-year-old colt by Maurice  recorded his seventh win from 11 starts and appears poised to move into some of Japan's major races during the remainder of the season.

With Yusuke Fujioka up, Jack d'Or turned into the stretch run just behind pacesetting Panthalassa , dead-heat winner of the Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World (G1) in March at Meydan. Gradually inching up outside that rival, Jack d'Or prevailed by a neck, finishing 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) in 2:01.2.

Win Marilyn, a multiple grade 2 winner and second in the 2020 Yushun Himba Japanese Oaks (G1), finished third.

Sodashi , the popular white filly and winner of three grade 1 races, tired late to finish fifth, one place ahead of Glory Vase, two-time winner (2019, 2021) of the Longines Hong Kong Vase (G1).

Jack d'Or finished 2021 with three straight wins and continued with victories in his first two starts of 2022, including the Kinko Sho (G2) at Chukyo Racecourse March 13 in a record time of 1:57.2. He went to the sidelines after a close fifth-place finish in the Osaka Hai (G1) at Hanshin April 3, a race in which he led almost all the way at breakneck speed.

The Sapporo victory sets the colt up for a tilt at the first grade 1 race of the season at 2,000 meters, the prestigious Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1) Oct. 30 at Tokyo Racecourse.

Out of the Unbridled's Song mare Ravarino, Jack d'Or was bred by Crown Co. and races for Toshiyuki Maehara.

The Sapporo Kinen field also included a second white horse, Hayayakko. The 6-year-old son of King Kamehameha  out of the Kurofune mare Marshmallow has been less successful than Sodashi but entered off a victory in the Hakodate Kinen (G3). He finished 10th with a mild late move from the back of the field.